Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite is a commentary on black civil rights. The civil rights movement was coming to a head in 1960, and this record functions as one of the most effective artistic statements concerning the issue. The album cover depicts a civil rights meeting, which had become common by this time. The record does a phenomenal job of embodying its concept: "Driva' Man" ingeniously utilizes a 5/4 time signature with a hit on the first beat to imitate a whip cracking, the Protest section of "Triptych" features screaming overtop a drum solo to depict anger, etc. The only flaw is "Out of Africa"-- it goes on far too long.
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